Human rights defender faces continuous reprisals in Djibouti

Human rights defender faces continuous reprisals in Djibouti

On April 15, 2018, members of the Information and Security Service (SDS) confiscated Kadar Abdi Ibrahim’s passport shortly after his return from Geneva, where he had been carrying out advocacy activities ahead of Djibouti’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR). To date, Kadar’s passport is still being retained by the SDS, preventing him from leaving the country.

Kadar Abdi Ibrahim is a Djibouti-based human rights defender and journalist. Between April 9 and 12 2018, he travelled to Geneva to carry out advocacy activities ahead of Djibouti’s third Universal Periodic Review (UPR). In Geneva, he presented the recommendations included in a joint Defend- Defenders/CIVICUS/FIDH report, and took part in a pre-session meeting organised by the NGO UPR Info on April 10, 2018.

Following his return to Djibouti, on April 15, 2018, he was briefly detained and had his passport confiscated by eight members of the Information and Security Service (SDS) – Djibouti’s secret service – who raided his home. To date, Kadar’s passport is still being retained by the SDS, preventing him from leaving the country, which has a detrimental impact on his work as a human rights defender.

On September 19, 2018, the UN Secretary-General raised the case in the 2018 report on reprisals against individuals who cooperate with the UN in the field of human rights.

On May 1, 2019, MENA Rights Group referred the case to the UN Secretary-General ahead of the preparation of the annual report on intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN in the field of human rights.

On September 19, 2019, the UN Secretary-General raised the case in the 2019 report on reprisals against individuals who cooperate with the UN in the field of human rights.

On May 1, 2020, MENA Rights Group referred the case to the UN Secretary-General ahead of the preparation of the annual report on intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN in the field of human rights.

On September 30, 2020, the UN Secretary-General raised the case in the 2020 report on reprisals against individuals who cooperate with the UN in the field of human rights.

On April 15, 2021, MENA Rights Group referred the case to the UN Secretary-General ahead of the preparation of the annual report on intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN in the field of human rights.

On September 29, 2021, the UN Secretary-General raised the case in the 2021 report on reprisals against individuals who cooperate with the UN in the field of human rights.

On April 15, 2022, MENA Rights Group referred the case to the UN Secretary-General ahead of the preparation of the annual report on intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN in the field of human rights.

On September 29, 2022, the UN Secretary-General raised the case in the 2022 report on reprisals against individuals who cooperate with the UN in the field of human rights.

On April 15, 2022, MENA Rights Group referred the case to the UN Secretary-General ahead of the preparation of the annual report on intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN in the field of human rights.

On September 29, 2022, the UN Secretary-General raised the case in the 2022 report on reprisals against individuals who cooperate with the UN in the field of human rights. 

Timeline

September 29, 2023: Mentioned in the UN Secretary-General’s 2023 report on reprisals.
April 13, 2023: MENA Rights Group refers case to the UN Secretary-General ahead of the preparation of the 2023 report on reprisals.
September 29, 2022: Mentioned in the UN Secretary-General’s 2022 report on reprisals.
April 15, 2022: MENA Rights Group refers case to the UN Secretary-General ahead of the preparation of the 2022 report on reprisals.
September 29, 2021: Mentioned in the UN Secretary-General’s 2021 report on reprisals.
April 15, 2021: MENA Rights Group refers case to the UN Secretary-General ahead of the preparation of the 2021 report on reprisals.
September 30, 2020: Mentioned in the UN Secretary-General’s 2020 report on reprisals.
May 1, 2020: MENA Rights Group refers case to the UN Secretary-General ahead of the preparation of the 2020 report on reprisals.
September 19, 2019: Mentioned in the UN Secretary-General’s 2019 report on reprisals.
May 1, 2019: MENA Rights Group refers case to the UN Secretary-General ahead of the preparation of the 2019 report on reprisals.
September 19, 2018: Mentioned in the UN Secretary-General’s 2018 report on reprisals.
September 2, 2018: Kadar seeks assistance of the Mediator of the Republic, the president of the National Council for Human Rights, and Djibouti’s public prosecutor in order to retrieve his passport, but to no avail.
May 10, 2018: Unable to attend Djibouti’s third Universal Period Review (UPR).
April 15, 2018: Arrested by members of the Information and Security Service (Service de documentation et de sécurité), and released later that day. Passport confiscated by the SDS, preventing him from leaving the country.
April 9-12, 2018: Travelled to Geneva to carry out advocacy activities ahead of Djibouti’s third UPR.

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